Carpet and Rug Institute President Joe Yarbrough, who took over his new position in April, 2014, recently spoke with Floor Focus magazine publisher Kemp Harr about his first two months at the carpet industry trade group. The interview aired on the flooring industry news site, FloorDaily.net.
The interview started with Joe discussing his history working in the carpet industry, beginning at Coronet Industries in 1972. Then in 1978, he joined Alan Lorberbaum and Aladdin Mills and later worked at Mohawk after its acquisition of Aladdin in 1994.
“I feel very privileged to have had a tenure that has allowed me to work with icons of the industry,” he said.
Even though Joe is new in his position, he has been involved with CRI for many years, including chairing the Strategic Issues Leadership Council for two years.
The interview also focused on how CRI and the industry have evolved over the past 30 years.
“With the change of membership going from hundreds to a few dozen, certainly the focus that the CRI can provide has changed,” Joe said.
He went on to explain that the consolidation of the industry has provided many positive benefits and that mills are investing in technology that will advance the carpet industry into the future.
Another major portion of the interview concerned the issues facing the carpet industry.
“We have to ask ourselves what are the most important issues that the industry is facing today,” he said. “One of the things I have been doing is visiting with the leadership of member companies about the mission of CRI.”
Joe outlined that extended producer responsibility (EPR) is a major issue that CRI and the industry are facing.
“We are looking for the right solutions to EPR,” he said. “We believe our industry has a long and valuable legacy of doing voluntary programs to find solutions that are sustainable.”
Listen to the full interview in the video below.
